Cybersecurity Basics for Non-Tech Owners
You don't need a degree in computer science to stop 99% of cyber attacks. Follow this plain-English guide to protect your business, your money, and your reputation.
1. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is Mandatory
Hackers can guess passwords. They cannot guess the random code sent to your phone.
- Enable 2FA on your Business Email (Gmail, Outlook).
- Enable 2FA on your Social Media (Facebook Page Admin, Instagram).
- Enable 2FA on your Website Admin Panel (WordPress, Shopify).
2. Stop Using "Password123"
Over 60% of small business hacks occur because the owner uses the same weak password for everything.
- Never use your company name, year of birth, or "admin" as a password.
- Use a Password Manager (like Bitwarden or 1Password) to generate and remember strong, random passwords for you.
- If an employee leaves your company, immediately change all shared passwords.
3. Identifying Phishing Scams
Hackers often send fake emails pretending to be from PayHere, Facebook, or your Bank asking you to "verify your account".
- Always check the sender's email address closely (e.g., support@facebook-security-alert.com is fake; support@facebook.com is real).
- Never click links in unexpected emails. Go directly to the website by typing the address in your browser.
- Banks will NEVER ask for your OTP (One Time Password) over the phone. If someone asks for it, hang up.
4. Backup Your Data (The 3-2-1 Rule)
If your computer is stolen or infected by ransomware, a backup is your only lifeline.
- Have 3 copies of your data (1 original, 2 backups).
- Use 2 different types of storage (e.g., a physical Hard Drive and Cloud Storage like Google Drive).
- Keep 1 copy off-site (If your office burns down, the cloud backup survives).
5. Secure Your E-commerce Gateway
If you sell online, you are legally responsible for customer data.
- Never store customer Credit Card numbers directly on your website.
- Always use a trusted Payment Gateway (Stripe, PayHere, Webxpay).
- Ensure your website has an SSL certificate (Your URL should start with HTTPS, not HTTP).
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